ESU President Lane plans to aid transition, teach accounting

May 6, 2011

When Emporia State University President Michael R. Lane steps down June 30, he and his wife, Dr. Peggy Lane, plan to remain in Emporia. Through the end of 2011, President Lane will work with the Kansas Board of Regents on the transition for a new leader.

“My current plan is to move into the accounting department as a faculty member in January 2012,” Lane said.

Lane holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Lowell Technological Institute, now the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, a master’s degree in account from Northeastern University and a doctorate in accounting with finance as a minor field from Texas A&M University. He is a certified public accountant.

During this coming summer, the couple will take time to evaluate their options.

Lane became the 15th president of Emporia State University on Nov. 1, 2006. His financial background has played a key role in determining how to handle budget reductions handed down by the Kansas Legislature. Among Lane’s accomplishments during his tenure include managing a 12.5 percent budget reduction of more than $4 million in state funding without furloughs or layoffs and with minimal tuition increases.

Other accomplishments during Lane’s 4 ½-year tenure:

Created a participatory strategic planning process resulting in a well-developed strategic plan including an implementation process.

Expanded the institutional focus on international partnerships and supported a 53 percent increase in enrollment of international students to nearly 600 students in fall 2010.

Implemented a “Dashboard Indicator” program to help deans, chairs and directors implement data-driven decision making.

Reorganized the marketing and media relations arms of the university, increased funding to marketing efforts by 300 percent, created the position of director of marketing and launched a new integrated marketing program in January 2011.

Increased communication both on and off campus including monthly lunches with faculty, staff, students and community members as well as regular reports of university accomplishments to Regents, state and federal legislators.

Reorganized several departments into one enrollment management function.

Funded ESU’s Department of Instructional Technology and Design to develop and offer an annual summer seminar to help faculty learn techniques for state-of-the-art online instruction.

Created and appointed a University Sustainability Committee.

Developed partnerships with Kansas community colleges, including Hutchinson, Butler County and Johnson County, to offer degree completion programs on their campuses for place-bound students.

Retained professional consultants to revise the institutional website and develop and enrollment management plan to address all levels of recruitment and retention of students.

Student retention rates for first-year students increased from 68 to 73 percent from Fall 2005 to Fall 2010 terms.

Secured funding for a $25-million renovation of the Memorial Union. Emporia State students voted by an 80-to-20 margin to support the project with increased student fees.

Led the university to gain approval for ESU to operate several programs at the ESU Metro Learning Center in the Kansas City, Kan., metropolitan area, an area underserved by Regents’ institutions.

In August 2010, ESU was named among the nation’s top 100 regional universities in the 2011 edition of “Best Colleges” by U. S. News Media Group. As a Tier 1 university, ESU was ranked 84th in the nation and 29th in the Midwest region.

Expanded the campus Shared Governance Leadership group of Faculty Senate and Associated Student Government to include Classified Assembly two years ago. Unclassified recently elected a representative who will be added to the group beginning in the fall.